Prevention

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” As in health care, this philosophy is important in wildland stewardship. Preventing the introduction of invasive plants is more cost-effective than managing infestations that become established.

One important area of prevention is import regulation. California’s border stations and port-of-entry inspections play an essential role in preventing the introduction of known invasive species. Cal-IPC works with national partners to strengthen restrictions established by the USDA.

Invasive plants can be spread to new sites on clothing, vehicles, or project materials. Anyone working in or visiting wildlands can inadvertently provide a pathway for invasive plants to spread. Cal-IPC works with partners to prevent the spread of invasive plants by developing prevention Best Management Practices and resources for weed-free materials.

Land managers work to reduce the impact of invasive plants in wildlands. Their work in infested areas makes it especially important for them to follow BMPs to eliminate the spread of invasive plants. Cal-IPC published Preventing the Spread of Invasive Plants: Best Management Practices for Land Managers, which presents a set of voluntary prevention measures and ready-to-use checklists to help those managing wildlands.

The third edition includes BMPs for fire and fuel management in addition to prevention measures summarized in previous editions. Visit our Prevention BMPs for Land Managers page to learn more about how to integrate prevention into your work.

Transportation and utility corridors are at-risk sites for the introduction and spread of invasive plants. Seeds and other propagules can be transported by vehicular traffic to other locations. Construction and maintenance activities can introduce or spread invasive plants through project materials and ground disturbance.

Cal-IPC published Preventing the Spread of Invasive Plants: Best Management Practices for Transportation and Utility Corridorsn to present voluntary guidelines that help to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive plants. Visit our Prevention BMPs for Transporation and Utility Corridor page to learn more about how to integrate prevention into your work.

Feed and straw used for land management activities can introduce invasive plants to worksites. Using weed-free forage and straw can prevent the spread of invasive plants.

UC Cooperative Extension worked with California Department of Food and Agriculture and County Agriculture Commissioners throughout the state to provide a list of vendors that have certified weed-free forage and/straw for sale in California. Visit the Weed-Free Forage and Straw Resources page for this list as well as additional resources.